Beautiful Spirit,
come to this place and bless us with your wisdom
that we might be guided by the living word
and molded by its message. Amen.
Submitted by Stephen M. Fearing, Beaumont Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY
Confession: when our faith is empty
Call to Confession
Let us gather to lament what is broken in our lives and ask God to forgive us.
Confession
Your word reminds us that we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.
But we make far too many distinctions,
treating one person with more dignity and respect than another.
We gladly welcome those who look and act like us,
but give a much less enthusiastic welcome to the stranger.
Forgive us for the moments when our faith has been empty,
for the times that our works have not matched our words.
Help us lean ever more towards your goodness
and help our lives reflect that goodness in concrete ways. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
The Psalmist reminds us:
Happy are those whose help is in God, whose hope is in the Lord.
Friends, God has heard our cry and has forgiven us our sins.
Alleluia! Amen.
Submitted by Stephen M. Fearing, Beaumont Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY
Prayer: personal, not private
God of Good News,
we are reminded this day
that our faith is always personal but never private.
Bless our worship this day that we might leave this place
to live out our faith in tangible ways that change lives.
In all that we do, may we do it for your Gospel. Amen.
Submitted by Stephen M. Fearing, Beaumont Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY
CTW: water breaks forth
Friends, be strong and do not fear, for we are in the presence of God.
Waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
The burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.
God brings forth abundance where before there was scarcity.
There is nothing that is impossible with God.
We are gathered to share God’s blessings with one another.
Come, let us worship God.
Submitted by Stephen M. Fearing, Beaumont Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY
Dedication: faithful (for NL1 Autumn)
Blessing God,
you are faithful to your promises to every generation.
Receive these gifts as an act of service,
for the sake the world you love,
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
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